The case for investigating a bidirectional association between insomnia symptoms and eating disorder pathology

Abstract

Many people with eating disorders (EDs) report symptoms of insomnia (i.e., frequent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or early morning wakening) and sleep problems have been linked to alterations in eating behaviors; however, mechanisms of these bidirectional associations remain poorly understood and under researched. This is a problem because higher insomnia symptom severity is a risk factor for the onset and perpetuation of anxiety, mood, trauma, and substance use disorders and, potentially, ED symptoms. Furthermore, insomnia symptoms may hinder recovery and increase relapse rates following successful psychotherapy. In this article, we describe potential mechanisms underlying bidirectional associations between insomnia and eating psychopathology that may contribute to the etiology and maintenance of both disorders. We suggest novel directions for future research to characterize the association between dysregulated sleep and ED symptoms and to evaluate impacts of insomnia symptoms on relapse and recovery for people with co-occurring pathology. Finally, we discuss options for testing the incorporation of existing evidence-based treatments for insomnia disorder (e.g., Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) with ED care. Overall, insomnia symptoms present a promising intervention point for ED treatment that has not been systematically tested, yet would be highly feasible to address in routine clinical care.